Forskolin

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is an important signal carrier necessary for the proper biological response of cells to hormones, neurotransmitters, and other extracellular signals. Forskolin is a naturally occurring diterpene that is produced by the Indian Coleus plant (C. forskohlii).{2920} It directly activates adenylyl cyclase through its catalytic subunit and is commonly used to raise levels of cAMP in a wide variety of intact cells and tissue preparations.{20316} Forskolin binds to adenylyl cyclase in membranes from stably transfected Sf9 cells expressing type 1 adenylyl cyclase with an IC50 value of 41 nM and demonstrates an EC50 value of 0.5 ?M in an activation assay assessing formation of cAMP from ATP.{2920} Forskolin also interacts with glucose transporters and certain ion channels and has been used for examining adenylyl cyclase expression, regulation, and G protein signaling.{20316}